Botswana: Coaching 4 Conservation
What is the aim of your program?
“To conserve Botswana's natural resources by using sport to engender self respect and inspire a generation of kids who care”.
Coaching for Conservation strives to engender a sense of community and self-respect among participants, to reinforce healthy core values and link a conservation ethos to real health and lifestyle decisions in rural developing Botswana.
Motto-
“Respect Yourself - Respect each Other - Respect your Environment”
How many coaches/volunteers work for your program?
30: Annually, we run a week long soccer camp for approximately 600 children. All our programs are designed to have an equal representation of a professional sports coach, a professional educator (conservation coaches) and an “animal coach” teaching each lesson. Last year we had over 30 volunteers including 5 professional educators, 5 facilitators, 10 professional soccer coaches, and 12 university student spirit coaches - from various global organizations. This year, we have spirit coaches from University of Southern California, professional educators from Epic Education in New York, volunteer facilitators from World University Service of Canada, C4C permanent staff and Botswana Football Association coaches - we are just missing a key ingredient of some (6-8) higher profile, energetic, international professional football coaches to raise the mentoring profile and 'wow' factor of the program.
We are launching a year round program that includes an Outreach Team, a Conservation Education Centre and a Primary School Afterschool program in addition to the annual program. We are therefore looking for a permanent team of 2 soccer coaches and 2 educators in addition to the annual program needs.
What social problems does your program address? (e.g. health, conflict etc)
Short Answer: Conservation and Natural Resource Management
Long Answer: Our goal is to improve people’s relationship to wildlife and wild spaces and our mechanism is organized sport – but the links between sport, health and conservation are not always immediately obvious.
The Argument:
- We at BPCT are committed to developing and implementing enduring changes that contribute to a sustainable future for the wildlife and other natural resources of Botswana.
- In order to do that we need to be convincing to the people of Botswana that wildlife conservation and sustainable management is important for them and for their children and grandchildren.
- Before this can take place the more immediate pressing issue of a runaway HIV infection rate among Batswana between the ages of 15 and 35 must be addressed as a fundamental part of the human context.
- This means that children under the age of 15y have to be convinced that they can take control of their future – they can CHOOSE to have a future. To do this they have to: “Respect Yourself”.
- Integral to Respect Yourself is the same message for others; Respect Others.
- Lastly, if you care for yourself and for others you have opened the door to care for your environment: Respect the Environment, because the future depends on it.
- Now we can start to talk about the importance of sustainable Natural Resources such as wildlife.
Why SPORT?
- Sport has proven to be one of the most dynamic global tools for systematic and positive social change.
- Sport is a common language and a vehicle that can engender excitement offering a opportunity to teach
- It also requires respect for self and respect for others, if one wants to play a team sport seriously.
How many children take part in your program?
3000 to date, approximately 600 annually.
